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Emergency responders ask FCC to expand broadcasts

The devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy and the shooting in Newtown, Conn., are renewing a push by emergency responders to expand a low-power AM radio service used to give travelers traffic information.

From California to New Jersey, public-safety officials are urging the Federal Communications Commission to allow them to expand the information they can broadcast on the stations beyond congestion and traffic issues that are the staple of the service.

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“Prior to and during emergency situations like superstorm Sandy and the Newtown, Conn., school shootings, TIS outlets need the utmost leeway broadly to broadcast information to protect life and property,” explained Frank Jazzo, an attorney for the American Association of Information Radio Operators, which represents Travelers’ Information Service operators.

According to letters from public-safety officials, the service is underused.

“Please re-craft the content rules to specifically state that weather forecasts, warnings, [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration] rebroadcasts and emergency preparedness information can be broadcast at any time, before, during and after a disaster — as a means of mitigating loss of life and damage to property,” wrote David Kircher, emergency management coordinator for the borough of Manasquan, N.J.

The New Jersey public-safety officials contend that during Sandy, their 10-watt station was the only reliable way they could distribute information when the cable, wireline and wireless telephone infrastructure went out.

“The only way Lyndhurst and surrounding communities were able to get the proper emergency information and post storm information was, on our AM Alert Radio Station, on 1700 KHz,” wrote Paul Haggerty, deputy coordinator lieutenant of the Lyndhurst fire department. “It took utility companies two weeks to restore these services. The older technology is more guaranteed to work than our newest technology today.”